Bottineau troupe stages ‘Paint Your Wagon’

Bottineau Community Theater show a 25-year revival

February 23, 2012

BOTTINEAU The story line in "Paint Your Wagon," to be presented in Bottineau could be taken from western North Dakota's lonely man camps.

Instead Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner's two-act musical is set on California's Pacific coast in 1853. Crusty old miner Ben Rumson, played by Luther Olson, is struggling to raise his 16-year-old daughter Jennifer, portrayed by Nicole Bunn, in a tiny mining town populated entirely by a few men.

Then Jennifer accidentally finds a gold nugget which sets off a real gold rush, and the emerging town of Rumson explodes to a population of 400 with many more men, all without women. Jennifer only has eyes for Julio Valeras, played by Paden Bedlion, but her widowed father is determined to send his tomboy daughter East for culture.

Article Photos

Submitted Photo - - Paden Bedlion as Julio Valveras and Nicole Bunn as Jennifer Rumson in the Bottineau Community Theater production of “Paint Your Wagon.”

Prospector Jack Whippang, played by Swain Benson, is saving money to send for Cherry, portrayed by Deb Nelson, and her "Fandango girls."

A Mormon, Jacob Woodling, portrayed by Gary Wendel, moves to Rumson with his two wives, Elizabeth, played by Chloe

Smith, and Sarah, portrayed by Susan Anderson. The men of Rumson know an unfair situation when they see one. They demand Jacob sell one of his wives, and hilarity takes over.

Fact Box

'Paint Your Wagon'

Bottineau Community Theater

Holwell Auditorium, Bottineau High School

Today through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. No reservations are required.

In the second act, the gold is running out and most residents of Rumson, including Julio, have left.

More music remains, however, with songs like "Born Under a Wandering Star," "Moving, Moving" and the title tune.

Tim Davis, who is directing "Paint Your Wagon," said the beauty of the music is a major attraction, with songs like "Wander'in Star," "I Talk To The Trees" and "They Call the Wind Mariah."

The musical was performed in Bottineau 25 years ago, but the only returning cast members are Davis and Beatrice Krogen, who is in charge of the costumes.

Schoenborn is choreographer and Nancy Olson music director for "Paint Your Wagon."

Davis said the stage version is much different from the 1961 movie version which starred Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. It was originally produced in New York in 1951 and 1953.

The set prepared for the Bottineau production, which shows Rumson, looking toward the mountains, is very interesting, Davis said. He described Richard Gross's set as a "telescoping effect" with platforms, flats and a general store set on rollers.

"Paint Your Wagon" will be produced at 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Holwell Auditorium and Bottineau High School. Reservations are not required. Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students.